Handmade Flash System (1) — Flash with Umbrella

Among my flash system, this is the one I’ve been using the most.

Most (not exactly all) of the photos of table-top shot kind in this blog such as

cooking samples has been photographed using this flash system.

And some party shot such as Capricorn Party was shot by this as well.

The base of this system is an Agfa 383CS flash-light (but actually it was made by Japanese Nisshin)

which takes SCA300 camera interface adapter (so, I used to use the adapter for Nikon, Canon, Contax

etc etc. for TTL compatible type, AF compatible type etc etc.) though, as the camera evolved so rapidly

and their control system became too complicated, hence, those system became obsolete in mid 80s.

—– still, this flash itself has External Auto as well, and of cause the full out-put manual and minimal

(somewhat 1/20^th) for rapid fire.    And on top of this, it got additional front flash to give

“Catch-light in Eyes” when used with bounce-light !

The rotating head has rotating diffuser as well which spread the light coverage from 35mm lens to

24mm lens. —– Almost everything what most of the user needs.

(As far as I know, this is the most well thought-out flash, ever made.

And after nearly 30 years use, it is still in full working order = its reliability is remarkable ! )

But, unless the subjects are more than 5m away, to take picture with a straight

flash-light mounted on camera —– is what I don’t do.    If a light was placed next to

the eyes, similar to Head-lamp, there will be no shadow on the subject.

It is the most unnatural lighting. —– For the most of the subject I needed to work with,

(think, a portrait kind in an interview situation, or to capture a dining scene in a restaurant) is

about 1~2m distance.    Other shot such as whole room, restaurant, shop etc will be covered by

another more powerful flash(s) or even studio type flash-light placed somewhere in the side.

Therefore, to photograph the subject in talking-distance, I modified my flash-light

to take an umbrella reflector.

Thence, I could create a photo, looks more natural 45 degree lighting, top lighting etc

with just a swing of my hand —– it’s mean, to operate the camera by right hand only = (before

camera was fully automatised with Auto-focus, it was a bit of special skill. —- think about, such as

Pentax 6×7 or Hasselbrad in one-hand operation with almost studio quality lighting, without the

cost of assistant. 😀 —– and that was how I nearly monopolized Japanese business here.   😉 )

The modification of the flash-light was just done by a simple cut and put-together

aluminium piece kind of work which you can see from the photos.

—– May be the most peculiar part must be the Umbrella.

This is the umbrella only one in the world = specially hand made by a craftsman who has been

making studio flash umbrella for such as Kishin Shinoyama etc.     The craftsman had happened to

have his family business, selling and repairing the umbrella in Roppongi of  Tokyo, where many

photo-studio situated.     Since the photographer who brought back an umbrella from the west asked

him to repair or even to make the same, he became the only Craftsman catering those needs in Tokyo.

For him, my requirement to make such small (diameter 50cm) umbrella was, of cause first ever

funny request.    Nevertheless, I got the one what I wanted = literally pocket size Umbrella.  😀

(You may find 70cm size which is using child umbrella frame) —– (In fact, I’ve experimented to

make small one, such as using only half of collapsible umbrella or toy umbrella etc.)

—– the reason is obvious, if you got to move around with umbrella, it catch or hit anything =

the smaller the better though, if it is too small, it wouldn’t work as a diffuser.

The size has to be the same size of the spread of light from flash in its distance. )

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Most of the Umbrella adopter for a small Flash, fix the umbrella  facing straight to the flash.

My design aiming the flash from the bottom, hence some light escape from the umbrella still,

the light intensity is only 2 F-stop drop.  Considering the diffused ligh covering

almost Fish-eye lens, the efficiency is not too bad at all !

(In fact the escaped light is bounced back from the ceiling, also contribute some good effect  🙂 )

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With the age of very advanced DSLR, which got ISO speed even 25,000,  it is easy to produce

the photo only with available light and it looks natural of cause.  But in the other hand the skill

to manipulate the image, intentionally hide something in the dark, kind is all left to

the after process of PS.  Though the trouble is, PS often looks too unnatural.

Resorting natural light still end-up unnatural image is not very funny. 😀

Because of the shadow, we know the significance and the meaning of the Light.

[]

Cuckoo’s Spit

I think the plant is Lavender, and every year, it seems a lots of Cuckoo came here

and have a spit fight.   (Some says it was not Cuckoo but a snake  🙂 )

Still, inside, the nymphs of  Frog-hopper ( Cercopoidea)  called Spittlebugs are growing

while sucking the sup from the plant, and making a bubble foam to hide. 

May be strong taste of Lavender repel another insects.    The photo, center shows a

Frog-hopper  just left a froth home, then the body color darken.  (right photo)

This insect is, despite its minute size, ( you believe or not) a cousin of  Cicada, hence

they are a miniature version of their cousin, and having the same habit to suck a sup.  

(Though, I don’t know how this insect coming back next year —- egg stays somewhere

(inside of plant ?) or the female pass over a winter ? —– Does anybody know ? )

Nature’s system and it’s life cycle always fascinates me.  — Even such minute fragile life

has their own system to weather the element and manage the continuation of species

—– for millions of years !   Has they got wisdom let alone a brain ?   Or all in their GENE ?  

How those GENE has been programmed ?

—–  So, the Buddhist calls it the Dharma.   System and the governing rules.

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Buddha’s Silence

After I wrote [Moksa / Moksha] I had some talk with a man who is a staunching believer of

“to gain higher conscious to attain enlightenment, to escape from the cycle of re-birth”. 

—– naturally he didn’t like my view of that the current Buddhism is a mixed-up.

[]

While wondering  why the people couldn’t understand such obvious historical fact and rational

conclusion.   I try to see the Wiki kind in the net, to see what others are writing about what

Lord Buddha’s silence toward the question.   (I normally refer to the collection of Buddhism

scriptures in modern Japanese translation) — then I found those writers in Wiki kind, often use the

term “Samsara” etc. which is a Hindu term, and the use of the word such as [SELF] was rather in

casual way.   I realized, this must be yet another case of   “writer is not necessary understand

what the  [Selflessness]  in the original teachings”.

[]

Lord Buddha’s silence said to be occurred in two kind of questions.

One was about the world or space, whether it is infinite and eternal or not.

And the other was such as what would happen to the Spirit or the Self after the death.  

—– a funny connection to those questions, I remember an episode in the Agama Sutra, which I

wrote in a post [Three times Buddha] there could be a fixed attitude in

Lord Buddha’s responce.

After try to teach in tree different approaches, if they didn’t work, he just stop to talk.

[]

Lord Buddha’s teachings about the SELF was nothing like other Guru or Philosophers’, such as

theoretical argument of “if the self exists —- blah blah” “if not blah blah—” but

a definite phenomenon exists in our mind (brain) such as I wrote in a post

[ Selflessness demonstrated]. —– This is the very Selflessness what

Lord Buddha had based on in his teachings.   This was the reason why the another episode

[Test of Selflessness]  existed. — (Of cause, on the assumption, those episodes are true historical

event ) as I explained, this Selflessness (in fact virtually all of his teachings) was not a subject of

logical argument but just to be sublimated to the depth of unconsciousness and just to be.

Like “Honesty” it’s not a matter of understanding the meaning of  word.  Just Don’t lie.

The only rule was Just do it, Just be it.   No question.  No thinking.

= If the one was really in Selfless state, no question of such as “After death” could arise.

( Being oneself without having even a conscious to be oneself,  no separate objective view toward

the self, let alone to the future after the death. —– no such mind could exists)

Honest man never think, nor need to think about the eyes of other people.

—– therefore, when he was asked the very question, he must be very

annoyed, hence ignored it and kept silence.

Even a conscious of self  is not in the living body, how it could remain after the death.

(Self is a product of intentional thinking = delusion.  Hence, when the producer dies, its product too) 

And as all the existences are inter-dependent and keep changing, how could we know

how far it extend and what happenes next moment = as nothing would last for ever.

(—- Don’t you remember what I’ve taught ?    Don’t ask obvious question again ! )

Lord Buddha didn’t even explain why he smiled, nor he would why he didn’t answer.

___/\___

[]

(The trouble of those Wiki authors are, that they are thinking the SELF is yet another

existence.  But, in the original Buddhism teachings, the matter was its NON existence.

= talk about what not there is pointless. —– in fact, it indicates, that they are not

Buddhism scholar but probably Hindu writer who is familiar with the idea of “Atoman”

Lord Buddha’s  Selflessness is the VOID of it, unlike an idea of Box contains “Kind Mind”

or “Self-Sacrificing Mind”  “Supreme Holy Mind” etc. —— but  Box itself is NOT there. ) 

[]

Images in Hackney / Fish-eye Vision

Those are the photos, which I’ve clicked the camera on the street of Hackney.  

As the default of the optical design, the image was heavily distorted.  

Which people dubbed as fish-eye lens effect.   

Some people hate this effect saying too unnatural —- ?  is it ?

Everybody knows perspective.    If you see a thing in distance, it looks smaller.

Assuming, you are standing on front of a huge building, 50m tall and 100m wide.  

You are standing from the central door abut 25m or so distance, facing the

building straight.  = From this stance, you can just see whole building in one picture.  

The building spread side to side about 120~140 degree in angle on your view.  

The center of building looks so high on front of you. —– yet far away,  you can see

the end of building = it looks not as high as in the center, because of perspective.

While you are standing and able to see whole building in one picture —– Don’t

you think something wrong ?  = Despite the building was built with straight lines

both end of the same building looks smaller in the same time.  = ONLY a conclusion

is “You are not able to see straight line as a straight line = it’s bent down in both end”

In fact, as the eyes are ball-shaped,  we never see straight line in our optical image,

except the one run straight in the center.   All the straight lines are in the imagination,  

or “Re-construction”  in our visual cortex in the brain.

So, I would say,  this is our natural vision. = only the center of our eyes shows  

straight line, and the both end of image, lines are converging = above,  down ward,

below, up ward = you see  —– or ARE you still clinging your illusion ?    

Ha ha ha.     I’m kidding.  😀

(In real life,  if you see a straight line looked carved,  you got to see a doctor.  

Despite  we definitely having blind-spot in each eyes,  no body see any blank in

our vision,  our brain re-configuring the visual signal perfect (well, more or less)

we see the straight building straight — in fact,  what is “to see it as it is in open eyes”

a good question.   😀 )

[]

Moksa / Moksha

Time to time I encounter the people who use a word Moksa or Moksha.

Most of the case they are not a Buddhist but somewhat around of it, such as Herbalist,

Acupuncturist, Psychoanalyst, or so-called New-age type of people who knew or read

something about “Higher state of Consciousness” kind.  (Buzz word “Higher” would

satisfy the Ego = I’m better than others. 😀  —– thus,  able to sell more books)

Yet still, a sect of Buddhism, Theravada who supposed to maintain the older form of

Buddhism, is using this word Moksha instead of Nirvana.

[]

Even among the Mahayana Buddhists, their understanding of the Buddhism is to deal with

this endless cycle of re-birth / Samsara, and to close this cycle is the Nirvana.

And most of the Buddhists believe, this is the fundamentals of the Buddhism.

This must be the biggest blunder and a fraud in the human history.

[]

This matter has been the most grievous headache to decipher Buddhism to me.

Lord Buddha’s teaching has broken the tradition and the popular belief of the

perpetual soul.   As everything is in the Karma, relating and depending each

other, non can remain for ever.   Naturally, when the body has died, the mind,

the soul resided in there, ceased to exist = So, this is the end of the suffering of

the person, hence it is the Nirvana.

So that, how come, why after one’s death, the person

has to suffer rebirth, to keep having the trouble of so-called Samsara   ? ? ?

[]

Utterly contrary to popular belief, the idea of Samsara was not what

Lord Buddha taught. —– I haven’t traced all of his words in the scriptures still,

just give a rational thought,  it is obviously THE self-contradiction of which NO

Lord Buddha would have made.

Lord Buddha might have used the word “Samsara” for a sake of convenience,

when he talked to mass audience who was not educated but

at least know it mean the trouble of the life.  —– Assuming, if

Lord Buddha said, “My teaching will save you from the trouble of Smsara”

—– What he meant was   “Trouble of the  IDEA  of Samsara”   since,

such IDEA itself is nothing but a false DELUSION which fooled the people.

Lord Buddha needed to teach and save the people who has been suffering

from a fear of such deluded IDEA,  saying  ” Don’t worry no such re-birth

would ever happen,  since the soul wouldn’t remain after the death”  (But

people’s fear is a cash-cow of  Guru and Monks, they changed the story)

[]

It seemed, this “Story-Change” had happened in the earliest stage of the Buddhism history,

long before even the Agama Sutra was written.   Considering that Theravada sect is using

a word Moksha which was originated from a popular Cult then who taught the idea of

Samsara and the Moksa, this mixed-up must be happened long before the birth of

Mahayana Buddhism.

[]

The IDEA of said ancient Cult was that all the life-form born as its own stage of progression

from the lowest to highest,  hence this idea became the Cast System in the Hinduism.

And according to the one’s deed, if the one did good enough, the one will reborn in the higher

cast but did bad goes back to the lower, even down to be a beast.  This cycle of Rebirth is

the Samsara,  and only the highest will get ultimate  Moksa to end this cycle.

Lord Buddha totally against this IDEA,  hence in his Sangha, all the followers were

treated as equal  (NO cast),  and he taught, ultimate goal can be reached in one  life

as Nirvana  (NOT the Hindu idea of Moksa which may takes several lives to reach ).

[][]

Lord Buddha’s teachings were “How to acquire the mind-set [Detachment

= Mushin, Selflessness] to deal with harsh reality in life, and to see the TRUTH”.

= The Truth, “No such things like SELF exists, hence nothing to be Reincarnated”

and to live in this truthful life, the one can reach peaceful Nirvana.

He did not teach a product of  imagination, far from it, he fought against it.

—– If you believe otherwise, please show me a FACT of Rebirth.

Lord Buddha was not such idiot to teach dubious imaginary story.

___/\___

[]

Beach Rose

I don’t think I need to show whole plant of this Rose as you can find them just round

a corner of street — with a sweet fragrance but having such dense sharp prickles. 

I thought this rose, Rosa rugosa is a common rose in any sea coast in the northern

country though, it seems it was originated from east, and once introduced to the west,  

it spread everywhere since,  even they were classified as “Invasive plant” in the US.

[]

The reason why I thought they are common was that I was thinking their seed pod 

(some people calls them “Sea tomato” ) was carried by the sea stream and spread

to other places.  —– When I saw them first time in the northern Japan, where people

call them as Hamanasu or Hamanashi,  I was overwhelmed by its impenetrable bush 

spread on a sea  side as far as I can see.  Then,  its sweet fragrance was embedded to my

subconscious alongside a Song “Shiretoko-Ryojo” (知床旅情／A memory in Shiretoko)

Since, I was on the way to Shiretoko Peninsula with the botanists who wants to see an

unique species of Violet only grow in a remote corner of that Peninsula.

[]

So that, when I saw this rose again on the shore of  Helsingor, Denmark,  just outside

of Kronborg Castle  (famous for Hamlet)  33 years ago, its smell instantly took me

back into its old memory.  ( Sigh !   How far, we have drifted —— 🙂 )  

Though, in reality, her ancestor didn’t come riding on the wave, but travelled in a box.

( Not so romantic.    How shame.   🙂 )

[]

ヨシ禅縁起

（これは友人に送った手紙の拔粋で，まァ日本霊異記，仏教説話の現代版ですな）

———————————————————–

昔母親が僕の手相を読みながら　｢お前は下らない事ばかりやっているが，曲った事だけはやらない。それに使命を負って生れていますからそれを果すまでは絶対に犬死にする事はないし，そもそも不動様が付いているので全く心配していません」と言い放ってくれた事があった。　   しかし，なんで俺ごときに，わざわざ不動様の番が付かねばならぬのか？　

この意味が把めたのは実に厄年も過ぎてからで　ーーー　ハタ！そう言えばえらくヤバい所を歩き回っていた割にマムシ、ハブはおろかサソリ、毒グモの類に出合った事も無い。　考えてみるとそもそも病気にかからない。　岩場で二度も転落しながら全くの無傷。　大転倒してスキーを二本も折りながら何の怪我も無し。　一方、背後から刺してくれた者、裏切ってくれた者が突然癌にかかってコロッと死んだり、もっとひどいのは死ぬ事もならず苦しみ続けている。　山で嫌がらせのしごきをやってくれた男は即、雪盲で動きもとれなくなって痛みでひいひい泣いていた。(因みにこの男、しばらく前に山に登ったものの徹底して暴風雨にたたられたとか＝神サマ後々までかなりしつこいらしい。笑）　　偉そうに命令はするが自分では薪切りも荷上げもやらなかった小屋番の五人は還暦を迎える事もなく他界して当時のメンバーはあとー人しか生残っていない。（ずっと後になって知った訳だが全く異った状況と死因ながら五人が次々に、というのには流石に目をむいた）　ーーー　小生が常連になると店や団体は大繫盛，逆に行くのを止めるとそこは倒産する。—–（ディスコ四軒，カフェ二軒，三団体, 山小屋二軒） 遇然にしてはちょっとタイミングが重なり過ぎている。（全て知らないうちにそうなっていたので，小生が呪いをかけた訳ではない－－－念の為）（例外的にBrixtonのクラブスタッフには予め警告を与え次の仕事捜しを勧めておいたのだが、六ヶ月後現実につぶれるまでは誰も本気にしなかったようだ。）

［］で，もっと奇妙なのが［８１５０の怪］といふ奴で，こちらの関係先，立回り先，それこそ電話番号から

銀行口座，

ブログの統計ページ，

ユーチューブの整理番号に至るまで，

将に「張番中］とばかりにこの数字が現れる。　－－－数字学の人によるとこれは語呂合せ通りに［ハイゴレイ，背後霊］の告知なんだそうな。－－－思い込みにしては，本人が選んでいる番号ではないし，それが勝手に現れて来るのは止めようもなく，現に個人向けの物に出て来る事実は動かし難い。－－－しかし、どんなメカニズムで現れて来るのかね？

［］と言うのを逆から考えてみて，ハタと思い当ったのは，実は小生は元々坊主になる為の修業をさせられていたのではと。　虫や花の自然観察から始まって科学一般，一方では詩人逹の人間学，次に社会学で視野を広げる一方，山登りの有無を言わせぬ荒行と，小屋番の只働き ＝ そりゃ無私無心の達人にもなるさ。 （永平寺の香月師はそれを一目で見拔いた訳だ）

で，幸か不幸か裁判沙汰で仕事を離れ，改めて禅なるものを考えるうちに無私無心と神経生理との関係に気が付き，禅と仏教の謎が一気に解けた。

［　　　　で，これも何故か遇然，ブログを始める事になり，書始めてから気付いたのは，どうやらこれは

釈尊以来，２５００年間で初めての解釈，ひょっとしてこれはえらい大役で，これが母親の言っていた使命なるものではなかろうか？　もしそうであるなら，そりゃ不動明王の加護，背後霊の加護が付くと言うのも納得が行く。－－－逆に見れば，これが必要であったからこそ，全てがここに集束すべく物事が生起して来た，生起すべく配置されていたという事だろう。　

遇然のように見えているが実は全て起るべく定まっていた訳です。（これを運命と呼ぶ）

［］唯一困るのは，小生のブログでは元々の仏教に怪し気なナンジャモンジャは（あれはヒンズーや土俗タントラの混交）存在しないし

釈尊もそれに対する質問は無視して黙っていたとされている（無記）－－－それではこの不動明王と言うのは何者で，そもそも小生の運命を規定するダルマに意志や意図が有るのかと言う難問が出てしまう。

ダルマは単に縁起が網のように連鎖した［空］で意図を持たない無私である筈。（まァそれは不可知と逃げるのですが）　（しかし，これも逆説で，もし小生のやっている事，書いている事がダルマや

釈尊の意図に反しているならそれこそ大逆罪で，とっくの昔にコロッと死んでいた筈だし，嫌がらせやハッカー攻撃を受けてブログもつぶれていた筈。）ーーー結果として何故か小生が禅仏教の基になった脳生理について語る事になった。　小生自身は悟りを得ようとも教祖になる気もさらさら無く単に迷信に侵された仏教者，研究者に［これが本来の教えというもの］を証したいだけで，２５００年の間に一人ぐらいは，これをやる奴が居ても良かろうと言う事です。

［］　これを整理，組識化し，宗教化するも哲学化するもそれは誰かの仕事で，それも因果の生起として起るものなら起り，仏教も元々の形に戻るでしょう。あるいは，鼻クソとして消えるものなら消えて行く。　 それがダルマの意志,と言うものでありそれが己れに付いたカルマです。　

合掌　良禅拝

［］

Rare Earth Gig or Party ?

Last night, there was a gig or party in a corner of north London, somewhere

undisclosed address, having had 100 of the visitors.  —– In fact, the place was

a disused office building occupied by 40 of the Artists or Musicians —– it was

said to be 37 people are living though, always having their friend etc staying,

so about 70 is the population there. 

The performance was Experimental Jazz kind of live music and many

live DJs, mostly rather experimental techno kind  —– still some were

quite  danceable good beats, not just an out of rhythm loud noise. 

So, I had an opportunity to have some rapid steps.  🙂

Those photos are for those who participated the performance, to download

and use for their own promotion, hence I didn’t put their names here.

Any how they are my friend’s friends etc.  

The place is not only undisclosed, but officially not exists, hence it’s a kind

of a vacuum in the society = more likely in other planet.  Some of residents

might have found a freedom and a free studio, free rehearsal, performance

space and some are just having a gap time in their life.  

And as the Artists respects each others, despite its chaotic looks, it’s quite

relaxed nice atmosphere there ( — and the kitchen looks very clean !)  

—– So, I might go back there again.

[]

Hand-made Bag

This not a museum piece from the Captain Scot’s camp.  

This is a bag I made about 1976 and used over 10 years since.

Unless I was on a Shooting assignment to carry full gear,

I only needed to carry A5 size Duplicate Notebook and,

may be just one Nikon with wide angle lens. — Only to carry

little things, ordinary bag on the market was too big.

Then I found a leather-goods shop selling  off-cut leather,

I decided to make one, fit to my use.

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 —– To make a bag out of off-cut pieces need to have just

a cut and stitch work though, being off-cut, the leather

pieces are  irregular shaped mixed sizes,

I needed to do a jig-saw puzzle first, to make required, workable

flat piece of leather.  And how to design such as closing fitting

on the top flap was the another fun.  🙂  

(I used the same key system for the small coin-purse too.)

[]

—– Whether you convinced or not, this is a Zen practice.  

When making it, there wouldn’t be any other thoughts.  (Mindfulness)

And while stitching it, just fingers were working.  (Mushin)

Considering the time spent, it wouldn’t make much financial gain nor

as it is not a kind of Master piece to show-off, it’s far from any Arrogance.

Still it was a fully absorbed commitment to deal with the material and the work.  

So, it was, I would say in Ichijo. ( Oneness = Non Duality )

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—– Forget the brah brah, anyway the bag worked well, for its purpose

and it was my good companion for rather long time on my life.

___/\___

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Test of Selflessness

While looking for a hint to see what was the mind-set of

Lord Buddha, here and there such as in

the Agama Sutra, I stumbled that

Lord Buddha had intentionally not revealing

his intention preventing the followers become

“head big brah brah person”.

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An episode in the Argama, which was — In a rainy night

Lord Buddha told a disciple, Ananda that he is going for

a walk. (without telling where or what for.)

To follow him, Ananda came out carrying umbrella and

torch-fire.  Everybody in the sangha followed as well,

each carrying umbrella and a torch, as they have been

accustomed to follow their teacher. —– After a while

walking up a hill, and saw all of his followers were there,

Lord Buddha smiled.   Then Ananda asked him,

“Great Teacher never smiled without a reason. So,why

this time ?” but he received no answer why.

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Lord Buddha has, in fact, tested

the followers reaction and their progress.

Even under a condition, not nice for a walk, still all

the followers actually followed him.  Which was an

indication of that, everybody had sublimated his

teachings and able to do it in practice.

—– What was the crux of teaching ?

= Without asking why or what for, despite in a rainy

night, just follow unconditionally, was a proof of that

everybody has reached to the Selfless state of the mind,

hence able to respond the situation as it’s happened.  

(As he saw the sign, that the teachings has

worked perfect, so, smiled.)

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Lord Buddha had such a good insight of human mind.

That was why he never explained the intention why,

or the logic behind of it. —– Once he explained and gave

a verbal key, the followers remember it as a buzz-word

and become head-big, then the thinking start to

control their behaviour which is nothing but a

sham or superficial pretence.

Buddhism is not a religion of Dogma of which followers

have to read and remember and recite the words, but the

Buddhism changes one’s psyche down to the subconscious

level through the practice. (= not behave what was told by

the Dogma or Rules, but naturally do it unconsciously)

If followers knew that it is a test to check whether the one

can respond at once without questioning and to follow

in the state of Selflessness. —– it can be mimicked and

easily pretended while competing with others.

(Look at me, I can do this. I’m better than you —–

this arrogance is the most remote from the Buddhist’s mind.)

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This episode clearly showed the essence of the Buddhism,

hence it become clear, how unfortunate the followers

of especially Zen Buddhism today.  = Knowing that

the Zen is to get Mushin etc. brah brah, it is 

completely opposite to get Mushin, let alone Zen.

If the one has a conscious of “I’m in Mushin”, it is not

Mushin at all.   It is the same to tell “I’m doing the sitting

in silence” (—– If so, shut up.   Just sit ! :-D)

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To master the Zen, you may need to be thrown into a

situation, where you were forced to do something utterly

boring repeating work (as a volunteer ?)

—– after you became able to do the work almost like an

automatic machine (while knowing, it’s useless to complain)

—– then need to realize “Aha, this the Selfless state

of Mushin” ! = So, it is even better if it looks most unlikely

set-up to do Zen, which would prevent to hold any pretence.

(In my case, it has happened while I was working in a

mountain shelter, cutting log, and in Disco dancing. 😀

= I was lucky, similar to Huineng who was placed to work

in the kitchen of the Monastery.)

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—– In fact, sitting in a temple to learn Zen is the worst

setting to learn, since such conscious of

“I‘m doing Zen” prevent the person to get rid of

such notion and the thinking.

It’s exactly the same irony = try to get cured in a hospital

where all sorts of infectious germs, viruses has been

brought in and more concentrated than anywhere else.  😀

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—– And in the same context, what I’m writing here

could be quite harmful to a novice, as I’m revealing the

trade secret,  while analysing mechanism of

the psyche in the Zen, utterly contrary to

Lord Buddha’s silent smile, aforesaid —– still, this

may be help the people who is studying psychology.

= So, it may need to put a health warning.

“Experienced Adult only” 😀 )

But this is what this Blog is, using my own mind as

a guinea-pig to figure-out what the Zen is. !

(Try to see Zen, objectively is not in Ichijo in Zen,

therefore the most remote from own Enlightenment.)

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(And that was why master Kogetsu damned me, that I

can get no Enlightenment ! — but, What’s wrong ? 😀

Get an enlightenment may help mere one person,

but to those millions of the people, who has been

mislead by a mixed-up-Buddhism, to open their eyes

could be a crucial matter.

and that must be the will of

Lord Buddha and the Dharma.)

___/\___

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PS :  Friend asked me at once “So, is it useless and

hopeless to attempt to learn ZEN at all now ?”  

“Not at all. Don’t try ZEN but just clean your

room or kitchen.  🙂

Make it perfectly clean and do it everyday”

And read this post.(link)

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